Lewis Hamilton claims he gets narky because he loves Formula One racing so much.

World champion Hamilton, whose defence of the title he has won for the last two years is now out of his hands, threw a hissy-fit at the Japanese Grand Prix two weeks ago and declared he would severely restrict his media work.

However, as he prepares for the US Grand Prix in Austin this weekend, he said: “Every now and then I’ve seen people have an opinion about how emotional I get; like I should be more happy even when I’ve lost.

“But I think people that comment on that forget how heavily invested I am in this sport.

It looks like Hamilton will have to watch arch-rival Rosberg replace him as champion

"It’s the same for anyone whatever they are doing, it’s about how much investment they have put in, and my heart has been invested in this for 23 years.

“This has been part of my life since I was eight and it is literally an extension of my life and my body. It’s really odd, but I feel it.

“I guess that’s why I’m good at what I do, because I don’t just drive with my head, I feel it in my heart, I feel it my chest, I feel it in my abs, I feel it in my butt, I feel it in my neck, I feel everything.

“That’s why I love it, because there is nothing else that I do that feeds all that and I can get those feelings from.”

Hamilton- who sealed the 2015 title at this event in Texas - trails rival nd Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg by 33 points, and now needs his German teammate to slip up if he is to have any chance of winning his fourth championship this year.

“Life has changed a lot. I went from being a little nobody-kid in Stevenage to people noticing me in places, so for sure things have changed a lot.

Delight for Hamilton as he's confirmed as champion at Austin in 2015:

(Image: Getty)

(Image: Getty)

(Image: Getty)

“I also went from being a very timid, more nervous person to a more confident, more assured and more successful person. Lots has changed but ultimately I’m still the kid that I was back then,” he told ESPN .

“Growing up in the public eye is a difficult thing and there are a lot of pitfalls.

“I’ve had great people around me who have tried to protect me from falling into them, but even today I still fall in them -- it’s just that I care less.

“If I do nowadays, it is what it is and it’s fun. As long as it’s light-hearted then it’s OK and you can still grow from it.”